Method and apparatus for a high-speed multimedia content switch with compressed internet protocol header

Abstract

An IP packet ( 210 ) is retrieved having a header and a payload. The header of the IP packet is compressed. The payload is appended to the compressed header to create a compressed IP packet. A multi-protocol label switch (MPLS) virtual circuit is established through a plurality of IP routers terminating at a destination of the IP packet. The compressed IP packet is converted into a MPLS packet ( 230 ). The MPLS packet ( 230 ) is transmitted through the MPLS virtual circuit. The MPLS packet is re-converted into the compressed IP packet at the destination. The compressed IP packet is decompressed at the destination ( 170 ).

I claim:  
     
       1. A method for a high-speed multimedia content switch with compressed Internet Protocol (IP) header comprising: 
       at a header compression unit:  
       retrieving an IP packet having a header and a payload from an IP network;  
       compressing the header of the IP packet;  
       appending the payload to the compressed header to create a compressed IP packet;  
       establishing a multi-protocol label switch (MPLS) virtual circuit through a plurality of IP routers terminating at a header decompression unit of the IP packet, wherein the header decompression unit is the IP packet's final destination;  
       converting the compressed IP packet into a MPLS packet;  
       transmitting the MPLS packet through the MPLS virtual circuit; at the header decompression unit:  
       re-converting the MPLS packet into the compressed IP packet at the destination; and  
       decompressing the header of the IP packet.  
     
     
       2. The method according to claim  1  wherein the MPLS virtual circuit is pre-established whenever a new unit is dynamically discovered on the IP network, wherein the new unit is one of the following: a header compression unit and a header decompression unit. 
     
     
       3. The method according to claim  1  wherein the MPLS virtual circuit is pre-established whenever a new unit is statically configured on the IP network, wherein the new unit is one of the following: a header compression unit and a header decompression unit. 
     
     
       4. The method according to claim  1  wherein the step of converting the compressed IP packet into a MPLS packet comprises appending a MPLS header to the compressed IP packet, and the step of reconverting the MPLS packet into the compressed IP packet comprises stripping the MPLS header from the compressed IP packet. 
     
     
       5. The method according to claim  1  wherein the MPLS virtual circuit is created through a plurality of Internet Protocol routers that connects a header compression unit to a header decompression unit, and wherein the multi-protocol label switch packet is only decompressed once it reaches the header decompression unit. 
     
     
       6. The method according to claim  1  further comprising, after the step of retrieving, determining if the IP packet is of a particular IP header type; and discarding the IP packet unchanged if the IP packet is not of the particular IP header type. 
     
     
       7. The method according to claim  6  wherein the particular IP header type is one of the following: real-time transport protocol, user datagram protocol and transport control protocol. 
     
     
       8. The method according to claim  6  wherein the step of determining if the IP packet of a particular header type comprises matching the IP packet with a predefined pattern. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for a high-speed multimedia content switch with a compressed Internet Protocol (IP) header comprising: 
       a packet skimmer, coupled to an IP network;  
       a header engine, coupled to the packet skimmer; and  
       a multi-protocol label switch proxy engine, coupled to the header engine and coupled to an Internet router via the IP network;  
       wherein the header engine is interconnected to the IP router and to the IP network via the multi-protocol label switch proxy engine and the packet skimmer.  
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to claim  9  wherein the header engine is a compression engine. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to claim  9  wherein the header engine is a decompression engine. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to claim  9  wherein the multi-protocol label switch proxy engine creates a virtual circuit through a plurality of IP routers. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to claim  9  wherein the packet skimmer processes and routes an IP packet based on a routing table. 
     
     
       14. A storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions which, when loaded into a microprocessor, causes the microprocessor to perform the following functions: 
       retrieve an Internet Protocol (IP) packet having a header and a payload;  
       compress the header of the IP packet;  
       append the payload to the compressed header to create a compressed IP packet;  
       establish a multi-protocol label switch (MPLS) virtual circuit through a plurality of IP routers terminating at a destination of the IP packet;  
       convert the compressed IP packet into a MPLS packet;  
       transmit the MPLS packet through the MPLS virtual circuit;  
       re-convert the MPLS packet into the compressed IP packet at the destination; and  
       decompress the compressed IP packet at the destination.  
     
     
       15. A storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions which, when loaded into a microprocessor, causes the microprocessor to function as an apparatus for a high-speed multimedia content switch with a compressed Internet Protocol header comprising: 
       a packet skimmer, coupled to an IP network;  
       a header engine, coupled to the packet skimmer; and  
       a multi-protocol label switch proxy engine, coupled to the header engine and coupled to an Internet router via the IP network;  
       wherein the header engine is interconnected to the IP router and to the IP network via the multi-protocol label switch proxy engine and the packet skimmer.